Fairyhill, Gower restaurant review

Situated in the heart of the Gower Peninsula, Fairyhill is a restaurant with rooms set in 24 acres of lush woodland and greenery. We visited as part of a weekend break to the local area.

Cooking combines classical technique with local Welsh produce and their wine list has previously picked up the AA award for best in Wales.

Dinner costs £49.50 for three courses and late availability dinner, bed and breakfast packages begin from around £195 for two people.

We kicked off with drinks and canapes in the bar; a mini salmon fishcake sat atop a blob of sharp lemon butter, a cylinder of light chicken mousse was wrapped in crisp pancetta and a handful of light pork crackling was as moreish as expected. 

Appetites whetted, we meandered through to the dining room. Bread was on the nail - intensely flavoured cheese bread and wholemeal bread were both soft and crisp crusted.

Mrs G’s starter was a proper looker and tasted just as good. Delicately pickled mackerel pieces, a lightly charred mackerel fillet, crisp Valencia almonds, cleansing cucumber and creamy buttermilk were a delicious flavour match. 

For me al dente linguini was bathed in a creamy sauce heady with earthy brown crabmeat, sweet white flesh and chive. I’d have happily buried my face in a bowl of the stuff and called it a day. 

Onto the mains, and Mrs G is still banging on about her dish. A perfectly pink Pembrokeshire duck breast with golden and crisp skin was served with cubes of sweet beetroot, a drizzle of light apple sauce, buttered greens and a gourmet rissole containing an addictive mix of mashed potato and confit duck.

My main was also rather good. Blushing pink Gower lamb rump was full of flavour and joined by sweet charred leeks, an offaly good cube of faggot, red wine jus and a stellar root vegetable gratin with buttery and tender wafer thin layers and a super crisp top. Arguably, the lamb could have been a touch more tender. 

For dessert, a moist pistachio sponge was joined by a super smooth, fragrant rhubarb sorbet, sweet strawberry coulis and fresh strawberry pieces. 

Mrs G meanwhile made quick work of a cracking Welsh cheese selection including creamy Caerfai Caerphilly, nutty Hafod cheddar and cider washed Saval. 

A pot of restorative peppermint tea was joined by mini Welsh cakes, buttery white chocolate fudge and chocolate and coconut truffles. 

Dinner at Fairyhill was excellent. If you’re visiting the Gower then I highly recommend a visit.

Disclosure - I was invited to Fairyhill, all food and drink was complimentary.

The Details:

Address - Fairyhill, Reynoldston, Gower, Swansea SA3 1BS

Web - http://fairyhill.net/

Telephone - 01792 390139